Storage system

ABSTRACT

A storage system for organizing items for use in either a first or a second mount is provided. The first and second mounts each have a hook. The hook has a hook opening. In the first mount the hook opening is generally at the top of hook. In the second mount the hook opening is generally at the bottom of the hook. A bin includes a back wall having a catch fixedly disposed on the upper edge of the back wall. The catch includes a first elongated member spaced apart from a second elongated member so as to form a slot. The catch is configured to fittingly engage opening of the second mount. The slot configured to engage the hook of the second mount. The bin includes a grated bottom and a divider with a plug adapted to fit the apertures of the grated bottom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application61/450,474 filed on Mar. 8, 2011, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a storage system. More particularly theinvention relates to a storage system for use in a medical facilityhaving one of either a first mount or a second mount.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage systems for use in medical facilities have unique standardswhich are not necessarily imposed in other environments. For instance,storage systems in medical facilities must be configured so as to allowthe hospital staff quick access to various items so as to reduce thetime spent in locating items for medical services. Other considerationsinclude sanitation. Namely, it is desirable to have a storage systemwhich does not collect dust and is easily cleaned.

Currently hospitals use one of two mounts for mounting bins. Both thefirst and second mounts include a planar surface and a hook. The planarsurface has a first surface and a second surface opposite the firstsurface. The first surface is adapted to be mounted onto a wall. Thehook is mounted onto the second surface. The hook includes an elongatedbody which is spaced apart from the second surface so as to form a hookopening.

In the first mount, the elongated body extends upwardly so as to placethe opening generally at the top of the elongated body. In the secondmount the elongated body extends downwardly so as to place the openinggenerally at the top of the elongated body.

The first mount and the second mount each have different bins toaccommodate the different hooks. Namely, a first bin includes a slottedback member adapted to fit the elongated body of the hook. A second binincludes a plug adapted to engage the opening of the hook.

The first mount has been used prior to the second mount, and currentlymany hospitals are changing from the first mount to the second mount. Abenefit of the second mount relative to the first mount is that theelongated body of the hook also serves as a cover for the opening. Inthe first mount the opening is exposed. In instances where the firstmount is not covered, dust may settle therein therefore making cleaningof the mount more difficult relative to the second mount.

Thus the trend among hospitals to transition from the first mount to thesecond mount will continue. Accordingly, it remains desirable to have abin which may be adapted for use in either of the first or second mount.It is further desirable to have a bin which is configured to reduce thearea in which dust may settle. It is further desirable to have a storagesystem which has bins allowing easy access to the items containedtherein. It is further desirable to have a storage system wherein spacemay be maximized by allowing the bins to be place adjacent to eachother, yet have the opening exposed sufficiently for insert and extractof items. It is further desirable to have a storage system with a deviceto help hospital staff organize and identify the status of items,specifically an inventory status. It is further desirable to have astorage system wherein bin space may be selectively configured toaccommodate items of different sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a storage system fororganizing items for use with one of either a first mount or a secondmount is provided. The first and second mounts each have a planarsurface and a hook. The planar surface includes a first surface and asecond surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is adaptedto be mounted onto a wall. The hook is mounted onto and fixedly disposedonto the second surface. The hook includes an elongated body spacedapart from the second surface so as to form a hook opening. In the firstmount the elongated body extends upwardly so as to place the openinggenerally at the top of the elongated body. In the second mount theelongated body extends downwardly so as to place the opening generallyat the bottom of the elongated body, wherein the elongated body servesas a shield preventing dust and debris from settling within the opening.

The storage system further includes a bin having a front wall, a backwall, and a pair of side walls. The back wall includes a catch fixedlydisposed on the upper edge of the back wall. The catch has a firstelongated member spaced apart from a second elongated member so as toform a slot, the slot extending along a portion of the back wall of thebin. The bin further includes a spacer fixedly formed onto the bottom ofthe back wall.

The catch is configured to fittingly engage the opening of the hook ofthe first mount and the slot is configured to engage the elongated bodyof the hook of the second mount. The bin may further include a bottomwall formed between the bottom ends of the front, back, and side walls.The bottom wall may further include a plurality of apertures. Each ofthe plurality of apertures is evenly sized and each of the plurality ofapertures is evenly spaced apart from each other so as to form a gratedbottom.

The bin may further include a divider. The divider includes a panel. Thepanel has a bottom edge opposite a top edge and a pair of side edgesextending between distal ends of respective top and bottom edges. Thedivider further includes a plug fixedly disposed on the bottom edge ofthe divider. The plug is configured to fittingly engage each one of theplurality of apertures. Accordingly, the divider may be selectivelymounted into the bin so as to form desired spaces within the bin walls.It should be appreciated that the divider may extend between either thefront and back walls of the divider or may extend between respectiveside walls of the bin.

The plug may include four walls so as to be generally square. Each ofthe four walls may be angled inwardly so as to taper from the bottomedge of the divider to the free end of the plug. The tapered shapefacilitates the insertion and removal of the divider with respect to thegrated bottom wall of the bin.

The bin may further include a placard. The placard includes a secondplanar surface and a second catch. The second catch has a first wall anda second wall. The first wall is disposed on the top edge of the secondplanar surface and extends outwardly therefrom. The first wall isgenerally orthogonal to the second planar surface. The second wall isdisposed on the distal edge of the first wall and extends generallydownward. The first wall is generally parallel to the second planarsurface so as to form a second slot. The second slot is configured toreceive a top portion of the front wall.

The placard may include indicia so as to indicate the status of itemsdisposed in the bin. Accordingly, the system provides for a bin which isadapted to be used in either one of the first or second mount so as tofacilitate transition from a second mount system to a first mountsystem. Further the bin includes a grated bottom so as to reduce dustcollection. Further, the storage system includes a removable dividerwhich is operable to selectively configure the bin for use with items.Furthermore, the system provides users with a way of easily recognizingthe status of the items in a particular bin.

In a second preferred embodiment, the spacer is an elongated memberhaving a plurality of gaps. The system further includes a support. Thesupport may be formed of a rigid and durable material. The supportincludes a first elongated portion and a second elongated portiongenerally orthogonal to the first elongated portion. The first elongatedportion is configured to fit within one of the gaps of the elongatedsupport. The second elongated portion provides a support surface for thebottom wall of the bin. The first elongated portion includes a supportcatch. The support catch is formed onto the free end of the firstelongated support. The support catch includes a first catch memberspaced apart from a second catch member so as to form a support slot,the support slot extends along a portion of the back surface of thefirst elongated support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of a bin;

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view showing the bin adapted for use in thesecond mount;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of the bin of FIG. 3A used in a firstmount;

FIG. 4 is an isolated view showing the tapered walls of the plug engagedwith an aperture of the bottom wall of a bin; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bin and a bracket;

FIG. 6 a is a cross sectional view of the bin and bracket mounted to asecond mount; and

FIG. 6 b is a cross sectional view of the bin and bracket mounted to afirst mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a storage assembly is provided. The storagesystem 10 is operable to organize items and may be used with one ofeither a first mount 12 or a second mount 14. The mounts 12, 14 may beformed of a durable and rigid material such as a steel or steelcomposite, or a plastic such as a hardened and chemically treatedpolypropylene. The first and second mounts 12, 14 each have a planarsurface 16 and a hook 18. The planar surface 16 includes a first surface20 opposite a second surface 22. The first surface 20 is adapted to bemounted onto a wall (not shown). The hook 18 is mounted onto the secondsurface 22. The hook 18 includes an elongated body 26 spaced apart fromthe second surface 22 so as to form a hook 18 opening 28.

In the first mount 12 the elongated body 26 extends upwardly so as toplace the opening 28 generally at the top of the elongated body 26. Inthe second mount 14 the elongated body 26 extends downwardly so as toplace the opening 28 generally at the bottom of the elongated body 26.The mount may include a plurality of hooks 18, each of the hooks 18disposed along an axis extending between sides of the planar surface 16of the mount so as to form a row of hooks. The mounts 12, 14 may includea plurality of rows as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3A.

The storage system 10 includes a bin 30. The bin 30 has a front wall 32,a back wall 34, and a pair of side walls 36. The bin 30 may be formed ofa composite plastic material and may be formed through an injectionmolding process. The back wall 34 includes a catch 38 fixedly disposedon the upper edge 40 of the back wall 34. The catch 38 has a firstelongated member 42 spaced apart from a second elongated member 44 so asto form a slot 46. The catch 38 is configured to fittingly engage theopening 28 of the hook 18 of the second mount 14 and the slot 46 isconfigured to engage the elongated body 26 of the hook 18 of the firstmount 12 as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3A, respectively.

The bin 30 may further include a spacer 48 fixedly formed on the bottomend 50 of the back wall 34. The spacer 48 includes a second elongatedbody 52. With reference now to FIG. 2, the second elongated body 52 isformed adjacent the bottom edge 54 of the back wall 34 and extendsgenerally between side edges of the back wall 34. The second elongatedbody 52 has a contact surface 56 spaced apart and opposite the back wall34. With reference now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the contact surface 56 isadapted to engage a portion of the hook 18 of either the first or secondmount 12, 14.

Accordingly, the catch 38 suspends the bin 30 on either the either thefirst or second mount 12, 14. The contact surface 56 of the spacer 48abuts against the first surface 20 of either the first or second mount12, 14 so as to help retain the bin 30 in a generally upright manner.

The bin 30 further includes a bottom wall 58. The bottom wall 58 isdisposed between the bottom ends 50 of the front, back, and side walls32, 34, 36. The bottom wall 58 includes a plurality of apertures 60.Each of the plurality of apertures 60 is evenly sized and each of theplurality of apertures 60 is evenly spaced apart from each other so asto form a grated bottom 62.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the bottom wall 58is provided. The bottom wall 58 includes a row 64 and column 66 ofapertures 60 so as to form a matrix 68 of apertures 60. A row 64 has anequal number of apertures 60 as the columns 66 so as to form a square.Further, the grated bottom 62 reduces the surface area of the bottomwall 58 so as to reduce the collection of dust.

With reference again to FIG. 3A and FIG. 1, a divider 70 is provided.The divider 70 has a panel 72 having a bottom edge opposite a top edgeand a pair of side edges. The divider 70 further includes a plug 74fixedly disposed on the bottom edge 54 of the divider 70. The plug 74 isconfigured to fittingly engage each one of the plurality of apertures60. The panel 72 is as long as the distance between opposing portions ofeither of the pair of side walls 36 or the front and back wall 32, 34.

With reference to FIG. 1, the divider 70 is shown configured to separatethe bin 30 into two portions 76, 78 wherein the divider 70 extendsbetween opposing portions of the front and back wall 32, 34. Withreference to FIG. 3A, a divider 70 is shown extending between opposingside walls 36 of the bin 30, so as to form two compartments. The divider70 may be mounted within the bin 30 by simply placing the plug 74 into adesired aperture 60.

The plug 74 is generally square shaped and includes four walls 80. Eachof the four walls 80 is angled inwardly so as to form a tapered sidefrom the bottom edge 54 of the divider 70 to the free end of the plug74. The divider 70 may further include a lip 82 extending along a topportion of the top edge of the panel 84. The portion of the lip 82 isspaced apart from the panel 72 so as to form a slot 83. The slot 83 isconfigured to receive an upper edge of one of the pair of side panels72. Thus the divider 70 may be stored within the bin 30 and pushed upagainst one of the side walls 36.

With reference again to FIG. 1, a placard 86 is provided. The placard 86has a second planar surface 88 and a second catch 90. The second catch90 has a first wall 92 and a second wall 94. The first wall 92 isdisposed on the top edge of the second planar surface 88. The first wall92 is generally orthogonal to the second planar surface 88. The secondwall 94 is disposed on the distal edge of the first wall 92 and extendsgenerally downward. The first wall 92 is generally parallel to thesecond planar surface 88 so as to form a second slot 96. The second slot96 is adapted to receive a top portion of the front wall 32.

The placard 86 may further include indicia formed on the exposed surfaceof the placard 86. The indicia may be operable to identify the nature ofthe items disposed within the bin 30. Alternatively, the placard 86 maybe used to provide notice of the inventory so as to alert the staff thatthe contents of the bin 30 must be replenished.

The storage system 10 may include a plurality of bins 30. The bins 30may be selectively mounted onto either the first or second mount 12, 14and spaced apart from each other so as to provide for easy access to thecontents of the bin 30. Furthermore, the grated bottom 62 allows forminimum surface area on which dust and debris may collect. Furthermore,the grated bottom 62 may facilitate removal of the debris by simplyblowing the debris off or rinsing it off and allowing the debris to fallthrough the apertures 60 of the grated bottom 62 wall 58. Furthermore,the bin 30 may facilitate the transition of a hospital from the firstmount 12 system to the second mount 14 system.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the spacer 48 is an elongated memberhaving a plurality of gaps 98. The system 10 further includes a supportmember 100. The support member 100 may be formed of a rigid and durablematerial. The support includes a first elongated portion 102 and asecond elongated portion 104 generally orthogonal to the first elongatedportion 102. The first elongated portion 102 is configured to fit withinone of the gaps 98 of the spacer 48. The second elongated portion 104provides a support surface 106 for the bottom wall 58 of the bin 30. Thefirst elongated portion 102 includes a support catch 108. The supportcatch 108 is formed onto the free end of the first elongated portion102. The support catch 108 includes a first catch member 110 spacedapart from a second catch member 112 so as to form a support slot 114,the support slot 114 extends along a portion of the back surface of thefirst elongated support.

With reference now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the support member 100 may bemounted to one of either the first or second mounts 12, 14. When mountedto the first mount 12, the support slot 114 of the support catch 108 ishooked onto the elongated member of the hook 18. When mounted onto thesecond mount 14, the support catch 108 is fitted within the hook 18opening 28. The first elongated member 42 is fitted within a gap 98 soas to place the first elongated member 42 between the gaps 98 of thespacer 48. The second elongated portion 104 is in contact with thebottom of the bin 30. The unsupported weight of the bin 30 pressesdownwardly onto the second elongated portion 104, the second elongatedportion 104 providing a cantilevered support for the bin 30 so as tokeep the bin 30 substantially upright and bottom aligned along ahorizontal axis.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It istherefore to be understood that the terminology used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings. For instance, the storage system 10 may includebins 30 having different dimensions.

1. A storage system for organizing items for use in with one of either afirst mount or a second mount, the first and second mount each having aplanar surface and a hook, the planar surface having a first surface anda second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface adaptedto be mounted onto a wall, the hook mounted onto the second surface, thehook having an elongated body spaced apart from the second surface so asto form a hook opening, wherein in the first mount the elongated bodyextends upwardly so as to place the opening generally at the top of theelongated body, and wherein in the second mount the elongated bodyextends downwardly so as to place the opening generally at the bottom ofthe elongated body, the system comprising: a bin having a front wall, aback wall and a pair of side walls, the back wall having a catch fixedlydisposed on the upper edge of the back wall, the catch having a firstelongated member spaced apart from a second elongated member so as toform a slot, the bin further including a spacer fixedly formed onto thebottom end of the back wall, the catch configured to fittingly engagethe opening of the hook of the second mount and the slot configured toengage the elongated body of the hook of the first mount.
 2. A binhaving a front wall, a back wall and a pair of side walls, the backwall, the bin comprising: a catch fixedly disposed on the upper edge ofthe back wall, the catch having first elongated member spaced apart froma second elongated member so as to form a slot; and a spacer fixedlyformed onto the bottom end of the back wall.
 3. The bin as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the spacer includes a second elongated body, the secondelongated body having a contact surface spaced apart and opposite theback wall, the second elongated body extending generally along thelength of the back wall.
 4. A bin having a front wall, a back wall and apair of side walls, the back wall, the bin comprising: a bottom wallmounted between the bottom ends of the front, back and side walls, thebottom wall including a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality ofapertures evenly sized, and each of the plurality of apertures evenlyspaced apart from each other so as to form a grated bottom.
 5. The binas set forth in claim 4, further including a divider, the divider havinga panel having a bottom edge, and a plug fixedly disposed on the bottomedge of the divider, the plug configured to fittingly engage each one ofthe plurality of apertures.
 6. The bin as set forth in claim 5, whereinthe panel length as the distance between opposing portions of either thepair of side walls, or the front wall and the back wall.
 7. The bin asset forth in claim 4, wherein the plug includes four walls and isgenerally square, each of the four walls are angled inwardly so as totaper from the bottom edge of the divider to the free end of the plug.8. The bin as set forth in claim 4, wherein the divider further includesa lip extending along a portion of the top edge of the panel, a portionof the lip spaced apart from the panel so as to form a slot, the slotconfigured to receive an upper edge either one of the pair of sidewalls.
 9. The bin as set forth in claim 4, wherein the bottom wallincludes a row and a column of apertures so as to form a matrix ofapertures, the row having an equal number of apertures as the column,each of the plurality of apertures evenly sized.
 10. A bin having afront wall, a back wall and a pair of side walls, the back wall, the bincomprising: a placard having a second planar surface and a second catch,the second catch having a first wall and a second wall, the first walldisposed on the top edge of the second planar surface, the first wallgenerally orthogonal to the planar surface, the second wall disposed onthe distal edge of the first wall, and generally parallel to the planarsurface so as to form a second slot, the second slot adapted to receivea top portion of the front wall.
 11. The storage system as set forth inclaim 1, further including a support member having a first elongatedportion and a second elongated portion generally orthogonal to the firstelongated portion, the first elongated portion includes a support catchformed onto the free end of the first elongated portion, the supportcatch includes a first catch member spaced apart from a second catchmember so as to form a support slot, the support catch configured tofittingly engage the opening of the hook of the second mount and thesupport slot configured to engage the elongated body of the hook of thefirst mount.
 12. The storage system as set forth in claim 11 furtherincluding a spacer fixedly formed onto the bottom end of the back wall,the spacer having an elongated member and a plurality of gaps disposedalong the elongated member, the first elongated portion is configured tofit within one of the gaps, the second elongated portion providingsupport surface for the bottom wall of the bin.
 13. A storage system fororganizing items for use in with one of either a first mount or a secondmount, the first and second mount each having a planar surface and ahook, the planar surface having a first surface and a second surfaceopposite the first surface, the first surface adapted to be mounted ontoa wall, the hook mounted onto the second surface, the hook having anelongated body spaced apart from the second surface so as to form a hookopening, wherein in the first mount the elongated body extends upwardlyso as to place the opening generally at the top of the elongated body,and wherein in the second mount the elongated body extends downwardly soas to place the opening generally at the bottom of the elongated body,the system comprising: a bin having a front wall, a back wall and a pairof side walls, the back wall having a catch fixedly disposed on theupper edge of the back wall, the catch having a first elongated memberspaced apart from a second elongated member so as to form a slot, thebin further including a spacer fixedly formed onto the bottom end of theback wall, the catch configured to fittingly engage the opening of thehook of the second mount and the slot configured to engage the elongatedbody of the hook of the first mount; a spacer fixedly formed onto thebottom end of the back wall; a bottom wall mounted between the bottomends of the front, back and side walls, the bottom wall including aplurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures evenly sized,and each of the plurality of apertures evenly spaced apart from eachother so as to form a grated bottom; a divider, the divider having apanel having a bottom edge, and a plug fixedly disposed on the bottomedge of the divider, the plug configured to fittingly engage each one ofthe plurality of apertures; and a placard having a second planar surfaceand a second catch, the second catch having a first wall and a secondwall, the first wall disposed on the top edge of the second planarsurface, the first wall generally orthogonal to the second planarsurface, the second wall disposed on the distal edge of the first wall,and generally parallel to the second planar surface so as to form asecond slot, the second slot adapted to receive a top portion of thefront wall.
 14. The storage system as set forth in claim 13, wherein thespacer includes a second elongated body, the second elongated bodyhaving a contact surface spaced apart and opposite the back wall, thesecond elongated body extending generally along the length of the backwall.
 15. The storage system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the panellength as the distance between opposing portions of either the pair ofside walls, or the front wall and the back wall.
 16. The storage systemas set forth in claim 13, wherein the plug includes four walls and isgenerally square, each of the four walls are angled inwardly so as totaper from the bottom edge of the divider to the free end of the plug.17. The storage system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the dividerfurther includes a lip extending along a portion of the top edge of thepanel, a portion of the lip spaced apart from the panel so as to form aslot, the slot configured to receive an upper edge either one of thepair of side walls.
 18. The storage system as set forth in claim 13,wherein the bottom wall includes a row and column of apertures so as toform a matrix of apertures, the row having an equal number of aperturesas the column, each of the plurality of apertures evenly sized.
 19. Thestorage system as set forth in claim 13, further including a supportmember having a first elongated portion and a second elongated portiongenerally orthogonal to the first elongated portion, the first elongatedportion includes a support catch formed onto the free end of the firstelongated portion, the support catch includes a first catch memberspaced apart from a second catch member so as to form a support slot,the support catch configured to fittingly engage the opening of the hookof the second mount and the support slot configured to engage theelongated body of the hook of the first mount.
 20. The storage system asset forth in claim 13 further including a spacer fixedly formed onto thebottom end of the back wall, the spacer having an elongated member and aplurality of gaps disposed along the elongated member, the firstelongated portion is configured to fit within one of the gaps, thesecond elongated portion providing support surface for the bottom wallof the bin.